Occupational physical activity in relation to risk of cardiovascular mortality: The Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation for Cancer Risk (JACC Study).

Abstract

We examined the association between patterns of occupational physical activity (OPA) and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a Japanese population. A community-based, prospective cohort of 66,161 men and women aged 40-79years without a history of CVD or cancer at baseline (1988-1990) was followed until 2009. OPA was divided into four types: mostly sitting, sitting and standing (sitting/standing), mostly standing, and standing and walking (standing/walking). During follow-up for a median of 19.2years, 3728 deaths from CVD were registered. Compared with mostly sitting OPA, standing/walking OPA was not associated with a reduced risk of CVD mortality for all subjects, but it was associated with a 20% lower risk of CVD mortality among overweight individuals (body mass index ≥25kg/m(2)). Compared with mostly sitting OPA, mostly standing OPA was associated with an approximately 20% higher risk of CVD mortality, especially among overweight individuals or those with lower exercise (<2.5h/week). In conclusion, compared with mostly sitting OPA, standing/walking OPA is associated with lower CVD mortality among overweight individuals, while mostly standing OPA is associated with higher CVD mortality, especially in physically inactive individuals.